The former Manhattan court juvenile counselor who was accused of raping a 15-year-old and sexually abusing two other teens who were in his ward was found guilty today of molesting the two teens, but acquitted of the rape. Tony Simmons was convicted of 12 sex abuse charges, two of them felonies, for sex attacks on the two girls in 2005 and 2008. He faces up to four years in prison.
Simmons had previously been presented with an insane plea deal of 10 years' probation and no prison time after he admitted to raping and sexually assaulting the girls; but due to an outpouring of rage over the light sentence, and a "disturbing" lack of remorse on Simmons' part, the judge in the case tossed out the deal, and Simmons subsequently recanted his admission. Prosecutors argued successfully that Simmons took advantage of teenage girls in trouble, one an admitted prostitute, another the daughter of a gang-member mother, figuring they wouldn't tell or be believed. He used tactics such as giving them cookies and watching Meet the Browns to seduce them. Simmons' lawyer argued that the teens made the allegations hoping to get out of custody, or to get a lawsuit payout.
